Inflatable structure for covering sport utility vehicles, boats and the like

ABSTRACT

A pneumatically inflatable structure includes first and second parallel spaced apart pneumatic end support tubes and at least two opposed pairs of bowed criss-crossed pneumatic bracing tubes and an arched canopy extending over the support tubes and bracing tubes. Each of the end support tubes has first and second opposed ends each mountable to a base surface wherein each of the end support tubes forms a vertical arch having an apex when the structure is erect. The pneumatic bracing tubes have first and second ends wherein each of the first ends of the bracing tubes are secured to one of the first or second ends of one of the first or second end support tubes. Each of the second ends of the pneumatic bracing tubes are securable the apex of an opposed of the first or second end support tubes.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/907,425 filed Apr. 2, 2007 entitled InflatableStructure for Covering Sport Utility Vehicles, Boats and the Like.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of inflatable structures includingtents and in particular to an inflatable structure useful as an eventvenue, portable temporary shelter, or for covering from the elements midto large sized vehicles including vehicles, boats and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Inflatable tents for use in camping are known in the prior art and aresold commercially by for example Airzone Recreation Products of Kelowna,British Columbia, Canada. Such tents typically replicate camping tentsavailable commercially which rely on bent fibreglass poles for theirsupport structure and instead substitute inflatable poles which, whenbent, provide the supporting framework for the exterior fabric skin orcanopy of the tent over which a so-called fly sheet may be mounted. Inthe other extreme, large tents are known in the prior art for use suchas by the military for providing field barracks, field hospitals andvarious depot facilities, such tents often being made of canvas andsupported on tubular metal-pole supporting structures.

Applicant believes that a commercial need exists for relatively largepneumatically inflatable tent-like structures which are larger thanconventional recreational camping tents and smaller than military-stylefield tents. It is believed that such structures will find commercialacceptance and use by the owners of large for example sport utilityvehicles, boats, trailers, and other wheeled vehicles or towables whichordinarily would require a large garage or shed for their safe storageand which are often not housed in, for example, conventional residentialhomes as not having extended garage facilities. Also applicant believesthat commercial acceptance and use of such larger pneumaticallyinflatable tent-like structures may include those in the field ofportable corporate sponsorship pavilions for example for use intrade-shows, portable pneumatically inflatable recreational andprofessional sports shelters for sheltering equipment, non-engagedplayers, or sickly or wounded players on for example the side-lines of asports field.

What is required, is a relatively larger pneumatically inflatablestructure which may be readily transportable in that, when collapsed,the structure is not exceedingly heavy or overly bulky so the structuremay be transported in for example the aforementioned sport utilityvehicles, in mini-vans, or in the beds of pickup trucks and the like,and for example may be carried by two adult males to a convenientlocation for their use, and wherein the structure may be erected usingfor example a high volume, low pressure air compressor running forexample from the twelve volt power source of the vehicle used totransport the collapsed structure.

In the prior art applicant is aware of the following issued patentsillustrating aspects of the state of the art in pneumatically erectablestructures including tents:

U.S. Pat. No. 2,591,829 which issued April 1952 to Katzenmeyer et al.;U.S. Pat. No. 2,830,606 which issued April 1958 to Daugherty; U.S. Pat.No. 3,145,719 which issued August 1964 to Johnson; U.S. Pat. No.3,899,853 which issued August 1975 to Wertman; U.S. Pat. No. 3,999,333which issued December 1976 to Amarantos; U.S. Pat. No. 4,068,418 whichissued Jan. 1978 to Masse; U.S. Pat. No. 4,197,681 which issued April1980 to Holcombe; U.S. Pat. No. 4,271,642 which issued June 1981 toKarr; U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,718 which issued December 1987 to Nichols;U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,918 which issued August 1988 to Odekirk; U.S. Pat.No. 4,819,389 which issued April 1989 to Kihn; U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,892which issued May 1989 to Norman; U.S. Pat. No. 4,876,829 which issuedOctober 1989 to Mattick; U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,481 which issued February1990 to Seeley, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,918,877 which issued April 1990 toDutka; U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,322 which issued April 1991 to Mattick etal.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,212 which issued April 1991 to Fritts et al.;U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,400 which issued June 1992 to Stewart; U.S. Pat. No.5,205,086 which issued April 1993 to Heim; U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,768 whichissued September 1993 to Russo; U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,128 which issuedJune 1995 to Shapless et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,544 which issuedNovember 1996 to Hale et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,478 which issued June1997 to Chen; U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,822 which issued November 1999 toMcNiff et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,014,982 which issued January 2000 toStrevey; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,617 which issued July 2001 to Turcot.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first embodiment of the present invention there isprovided a pneumatically inflatable structure comprising first andsecond parallel spaced apart pneumatic end support tubes and at leasttwo opposed pairs of bowed criss-crossed pneumatic bracing tubes and anarched canopy extending over the support tubes and bracing tubes. Eachof the end support tubes has first and second opposed ends eachmountable to a base surface wherein each of the end support tubes formsa vertical arch having an apex when the structure is erect. Thepneumatic bracing tubes have first and second ends wherein each of thefirst ends of the bracing tubes are secured to one of the first orsecond ends of one of the first or second end support tubes. Each of thesecond ends of the pneumatic bracing tubes are securable the apex of anopposed of the first or second end support tubes.

The array of the pneumatically inflatable structure may comprise two endsupport tubes and the two opposed pairs of bracing tubes may be mountedthereto and extend therebetween. The array may further comprise at leastone intermediate support tube forming a vertical arch between and inparallel to the end support tubes at a location where one of the atleast one intermediate support tubes intersects a junction of thebracing tubes where the bracing tubes criss-cross. The support tubes andbracing tubes may have equal length. The support tubes and the bracingtubes may be substantially identical.

The canopy may be secured to the support tubes and the bracing tubes forexample either over the top of the tubes, or under the tubes, that isthe tubes thereby forming an exoskeleton, or as a webbing between thetubes. The pneumatically inflatable structure may further comprisesecuring means such as various fasteners for securing the ends of thesupport tubes to the base surface. The securing means may comprise aflexible or hinged fastener, and may also include a ground spike. Thebase surface may merely be the ground surface or may include a planarsheet, strapping, etc.

The pneumatically inflatable structure may further comprise at least twoopposed pairs of bowed criss-crossed pneumatic bracing tubes lengthwiseconnected to each other. The support tubes and bracing tubes mayadvantageously be pneumatically interconnected by a flexible air conduitextending therebetween so that the entire structure may be inflatedsimultaneously from a single source of pressurized air.

The support tubes and bracing tubes may comprise inner resilient tubessnugly mountable within outer non-resilient straight sleeves in snuglyjournalled relation therethrough. Each sleeve of the outer non-resilientstraight sleeves may have a seam extending linearly along its length.Each seam may be an overlapped seam having an overlapped portion withinthe sleeve due to inversion of the sleeve following forming of the seamwherein the overlapped portion is formed of the longitudinal edges ofmaterial forming the sleeve. The overlapped portion may be folded overso as to be disposed perpendicular to a curvature of the seam when thesupport tubes and bracing tubes become curved as they are inflated,being constrained at their ends where mounted to the base surface.

The support tubes and bracing tubes may be self-sealing by self-sealingmeans at ends of support tubes and the bracing tubes. The self-sealingmeans may comprise ends of the inner resilient tubes which are foldedover onto themselves wherein the ends of the tubes are anchored byanchoring means to the ends of the first and second supports. The endsof the first and second supports may each be formed as a flap hinge whenthe ends are mounted to the tent canopy.

The inner resilient tubes may be adapted, when mounted in the sleeves,to contain air pressurized up to between 8 to 12 pounds per square inch.

The pneumatically inflatable structure may further comprise a canopyvestibule extending from an opening aperture into the pneumaticallyinflatable structure.

Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparentto those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the followingdescription of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction withthe accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention whereinsimilar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pneumatically inflatable structureaccording to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pneumatically inflatable structureof FIG. 1 with the canopy removed.

FIG. 3 a is a side elevation view of the pneumatically inflatablestructure of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 b is a plan view of the pneumatically inflatable structure ofFIG. 3 a.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the canopy of the inflatable structureof FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a pneumatically inflatable structureaccording to an alternative embodiment of the invention having an endvestibule.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a pneumatically inflatable structureaccording to an alternative embodiment having increased dimensions.

FIG. 7 is a detailed view of the flexible end flaps of the pneumatictubes according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a pneumatically inflatable structure accordingto a first embodiment of the invention is shown generally at 10. Thepneumatically inflatable structure 10 includes two parallel spaced apartpneumatic end support tubes 12 and two opposed pairs 20 of bowed andcriss-crossed pneumatic bracing tubes 22 covered by a canopy 30. In oneembodiment of the invention, end support tubes 12 and bracing tubes 22are substantially identical as better described below. The pneumaticallyinflatable structure 10 may also include a base surface such as basesheet 16.

The pneumatic end support tubes 12 include ends 12 a secured to basesheet 16 or to the ground and are bowed when inflated so as to have anapex 18 be also downwardly concave. The pneumatic support tubes 12 arearranged in parallel to each other so as to define a common opening 8thereunder sized for mid to large sized vehicles including vehicles,boats and the like. The pneumatically inflatable structure 10 may alsoinclude one or more intermediate support tube 13 secured to the basesheet or ground which are oriented and bowed in parallel to the endsupport tubes and so as to also have an apex 18. As illustrated in FIG.2, one intermediate support tube 13 is utilized and located at thejunctions 24 of the two pairs of the bracing tubes, although it will beappreciated that more than one intermediate support tube may also beutilized at different locations between the end support tubes 12.Advantageously tubes 12 and 13 form a substantially parallel spacedapart array of curved supports having substantially the same height andwidth dimensions for each of the curved supports.

Each pair 20 of pneumatic bracing tubes 22 are criss-crossed atcorresponding junctions 24 in fluid communication with one another by acooperating hollow flexible conduit 26. The first and second oppositeends 22 a and 22 b, respectively of tubes 22 are mounted to opposedpneumatic end support tubes 12, that is, to the end support tubes ateach end of structure 10. The first ends 22 a are each connected to abase 12 a for example by the use of securing means such as flexible endflap 64 formed at the end of each of the tubes. The second ends 22 b areeach connected to apex 18 of the tube 12 at the opposite end ofstructure 10, for example by the use of flexible end flaps 64 formed atthe end of each of the tubes, so that each tube 22 extends the lengthof, and generally diagonally across each lateral side of the structure10. The bracing tubes 22 may be secured to each other as well as to thesupport tubes 12 and 13 by means of securing straps 80. Securing straps80 may comprise of cable ties, string, ropes or any other suitable strapmeans.

Each of the pneumatic end support tubes 12 are bowed and arrangedparallel to each other so as to form a frame having downwardly concaveelongate structure defining a common opening 8. Intermediate supporttube 18 are bowed and oriented in parallel to the end support tubes 12so as to support a middle portion of the canopy 30. The pneumaticbracing tubes 22 extend between and brace the end support tubes 12 so asto maintain them in their desired parallel orientation. Thus taken incombination the two opposed pairs 20 of pneumatic bracing tubes 22 andthe end support tubes 12 define an elongate open enclosure elongatealong longitudinal axis A.

Referring to FIG. 4, canopy 30 comprises a rectangular substantiallyplanar flexible sheet of material having first and second end edges 32and 34, respectively and first and second side edges 36 and 38,respectively. The canopy includes a plurality of securing straps 40attached to a bottom surface thereof. The securing straps 40 comprise anelongate strip of material having first and second fastenable portions42 and 44, respectively. The first and second fastenable portions may besecured to each other after the securing strip encircles one or more ofthe end or intermediate support tubes 12 or 13 or the bracing tubes 22and serve to secure the canopy 30 thereto. As illustrated in FIG. 1, thecanopy 30 also include end flanges 46 extending inwardly from the canopyso as to surround the support tubes 12.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the canopy 30 includes an exterior surface 31which may include one or more guy loops 33 for securing a conventionalpegged guy wire 35 thereto. It will be appreciated that the guy wires 35will assist in the lateral stability of the inflated structure 10, inparticular when subjected to side loads such as wind, for example.

In an alternative embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 5, the pneumaticallyinflatable structure 10 may include a vestibule 50 extending from one ormore ends. The vestibule 50 comprises a sheet of material extending fromthe first or second edge 32 or 34 of the canopy 30 to a ground securinglocation 52 at a distance from the first or second end of the structure10. The vestibule 50 provides increased wind resistance and security tothe structure. The vestibule 50 may be formed as a common sheet with thecanopy 30 or may be a separate sheet that is connected to the canopywhen the structure is erected.

The inflatable structure 10 may include a base sheet 16 comprising arectangular sheet of material to which the ends 12 a and 12 b of the endsupport tubes as well as the ends of the intermediate support tubes 13and the bracing tubes 22 may be secured. The base sheet 16 may providethe dimensions of the base of the inflatable structure 10 when erected.Alternatively the inflatable structure 10 may be secured to the groundby passing a fastener 60, such as for example a ground spike through aneyelet 62 in the end flaps 64 of the end or intermediate support tubes12 or 13 or the bracing tubes 22, as illustrated in FIG. 7.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, one or more of theinflatable structures 10 as taught above may be lengthwise connected toeach other to form a common modular elongate structure. Where more thanone inflatable structure 10 are employed modularly and each already hasa base 16 mounted to the ends of the pairs of tubes, in a furtherembodiment of the present invention, a separate spanning, joining orlinking section is employed to join the adjacent sides of the base 16.As may be understood then, it is not necessary that the inflatablestructure according to the present invention merely and only is limitedto two end support tubes 12 and a single span of bracing tubes 22 as itwill be understood that a further elongated enclosure may be constructedusing two or more pairs of criss-crossed bracing tubes similar to pairs20.

In a preferred embodiment, each of the criss-crossed pneumatic bracingtubes 20 of tube pairs 22, pneumatic end support tubes 12 and pneumaticintermediate support tubes 13 are of a design such as taught in my U.S.Pat. No. 6,263,617 and incorporated herein by reference such that aresilient or at least flexible inner tube is mounted within an outerflexible relatively non-resilient sleeve, and wherein such a sleeve hasa folded seam along its interior circumference folded over so that thesleeve and inner tube may be constructed as a linear pole which may thenbe bent to accommodate the required bowed shaped to form the inflatedstructure. It has been found that such inflatable tubes for examplehaving approximately a twenty inch circumference which is constant alongthe length of each tube may be inflated to approximately eight to twelvepounds per square inch (psi) and thereby provide sufficient rigidity foran inflatable structure which may then house wheeled vehicles or towabletrailers such as a trailer and boat combination which is not intended tobe limiting.

Thus in one embodiment, the width of the span between ends of thepneumatic end and intermediate support tubes 12 and 13 may beapproximately ten feet and the distance between the opposite end supporttubes is approximately twenty feet. Accordingly the height to the apex18 of the pneumatic end and intermediate support tubes 12 and 13 will beapproximately eight feet. The pneumatic end tubes and intermediatesupport tubes 12 and 13 respectively and pneumatic bracing tubes 22 willthus each be approximately twenty-four feet long. It will be appreciatedthat other lengths of the pneumatic end and intermediate support tubes12 and 13 and pneumatic bracing tubes 22 may also be used for otherdesired dimensions of the inflatable structure.

In a second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the pneumatic end andintermediate support tubes 12 and 13 and pneumatic bracing tubes 22 maybe sized so as to provide a structure having internal dimensionsadequate for covering the folded wings of a light aircraft. Asillustrated in FIG. 6, the pneumatic end and intermediate support tubes12 and 13 and pneumatic bracing tubes 22 may be approximately 47.3 feetlong. Accordingly the structure illustrated in FIG. 6 may therefore be46 feet long, 32 feet wide and having a height of approximately 16 feet.

An array of interconnected airlines 70 stemming from a common manifold72 may be used to simultaneously inflate all of the tubes, where forexample separate air lines 70 are mounted in fluid communication withadjacent ends of tubes 12, 13 and 22, and a single source (not shown) ofpressurized air is mounted to manifold 40. Alternatively, separate airsources may also be used for pressurizing separate zones of thestructure as defined by a grouping of fluidically interconnected tubes.Alternatively, the structure 10 may include a plurality of tubes 12, 13and 22 mounted adjacent to and in parallel to each other such that oneset of tubes 12, 13 and 22 defines a first circuit while a second set oftubes 12, 13 and 22 defines a second circuit. It will be appreciatedthat duplication of each tube of the structure permits that structure toremain erected should a leak occur in one of the two circuits.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of theforegoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible inthe practice of this invention without departing from the spirit orscope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to beconstrued in accordance with the substance defined by the followingclaims.

1. A pneumatically inflatable structure comprising: first and secondparallel spaced apart pneumatic end support tubes, each of said endsupport tubes having first and second opposed ends each mountable to abase surface wherein each of said end support tubes forms a verticalarch having an apex when said structure is erect; at least two opposedpairs of bowed criss-crossed pneumatic bracing tubes, each of saidbracing tubes having first and second ends wherein each of said firstends of said bracing tubes are secured to one of said first or secondends of one of said first or second end support tubes, wherein each ofsaid second ends are securable said apex of an opposed of said first orsecond end support tubes; and an arched canopy extending over saidsupport tubes and bracing tubes.
 2. The pneumatically inflatablestructure of claim 1 comprising two end support tubes and two opposedpairs of bracing tubes mounted thereto and extending therebetween. 3.The pneumatically inflatable structure of claim 2 further comprising atleast one intermediate support tube forming a vertical arch between andin parallel to said end support tubes at a location defined by ajunction of said bracing tubes.
 4. The pneumatically inflatablestructure of claim 1 wherein said support tubes and said bracing tubeshas equal length.
 5. The pneumatically inflatable structure of claim 4wherein said support tubes and said bracing tubes have are substantiallyidentical.
 6. The pneumatically inflatable structure of claim 1 whereinsaid canopy is secured to said support tubes and said bracing tubes. 7.The pneumatically inflatable structure of claim 1 further comprisingsecuring means for securing said support tubes to said base surface. 8.The pneumatically inflatable structure of claim 7 wherein said securingmeans comprises a fastener.
 9. The pneumatically inflatable structure ofclaim 8 wherein said securing means comprises a ground spike.
 10. Thepneumatically inflatable structure of claim 1 wherein said base surfacecomprises a ground surface.
 11. The pneumatically inflatable structureof claim 1 wherein said base surface comprises a planar sheet.
 14. Thepneumatically inflatable structure of claim 1 further comprising atleast two of said opposed pairs of bowed criss-crossed pneumatic bracingtubes lengthwise connected to each other.
 15. The pneumaticallyinflatable structure of claim 1 wherein said support tubes and saidbracing tubes are pneumatically interconnected by a flexible air conduitextending therebetween.
 16. The pneumatically inflatable structure ofclaim 15 wherein said support tubes and said bracing tubes compriseinner resilient tubes snugly mountable within outer non-resilientstraight sleeves in journalled relation therethrough.
 17. Thepneumatically inflatable structure of claim 16 wherein each sleeve ofsaid outer non-resilient straight sleeves has a seam extending linearlyalong its length, each said seam being an overlapped seam having anoverlapped portion within said sleeve due to inversion of said sleevefollowing forming of said seam, said overlapped portion formed of thelongitudinal edges of material forming said sleeve, said overlappedportion folded over so as to be disposed perpendicular to a curvature ofsaid seam when said inflatable supports are inflated.
 18. Thepneumatically inflatable structure of claim 17 wherein said supporttubes and said bracing tubes are self-sealing by self-sealing means atends of support tubes and said bracing tubes, said self-sealing meanscomprising ends of said inner resilient tubes which are folded over ontothemselves, said ends of said tubes anchored by anchoring means to saidends of said first and second supports, said ends of said support tubesand said bracing tubes each formed as a flap hinge when said ends aremounted to said tent canopy.
 19. The pneumatically inflatable structureof claim 17 wherein said inner resilient tubes are adapted, when mountedin said sleeves, to contain air pressurized to between 8 to 12 poundsper square inch.
 20. The pneumatically inflatable structure of claim 1further comprising a vestibule extending from an opening aperture ofsaid pneumatically inflatable structure.